All Scripture references in the following post are taken from the NWT Translation of the Bible. This is intended for reaching out to Jehovah’s Witnesses. This post is not intended as a full defense of the Triune nature of God as that defense would be done with a more accurate translation of the Bible.

In the book of Deuteronomy 6:4 we find God’s revelation which says “Jehovah our God is one Jehovah”. Also in the book of Isaiah 43:11 we find another revelation which says “I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior”. With these verses in mind, we can trust God’s promise that He is the only one God (Jehovah) who is our only Savior.

To support this great truth, revealed to us by God, we can also look at other references in the Bible. For example, in the Old Testament, in Hosea 13:4 “But I am Jehovah your God from the land of Egypt; You knew no God except me, And besides me there is no savior”. Psalm 3:8 says “Salvation belongs to Jehovah” and Psalm 37:39, “The salvation of the righteous is from Jehovah”. In Jonah 2:9 “…Salvation is from Jehovah”. We can also find support in the New Testament in Luke 1:47 “… and my spirit cannot keep from being overjoyed at God my Savior”. Also in 1 Timothy 4:10 “…we have rested our hope on a living God, who is a Savior…” and 1 Timothy 2:3 “This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God…”

Literal Translation: In beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and God was the Word

Translation: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ESV

John 1:1 is a much attacked verse in Scripture by those that deny the deity of Christ. This can be well understood as this text clearly does proclaim the eternality and deity of the Word. The contended text is the phrase at the end of the verse “and the Word was God” (καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος, kia theos en ho logos). This is literally translated “and God was the Word”. The word “theos” in this phrase is anarthrous, meaning it has no definite article, because it is anarthrous the Jehovah’s Witnesses claim they are justified in translating this text as “and the Word was a god”.

In this podcast we continue to examine the Jehovah’s Witness cult and equip Christian’s to speak to them and give them the Truth of the Gospel. We also examine Colossians 1:12-20 and provide a defense of that text for the deity of Christ.

In the last episode of the podcast (LBM Podcast 0004) we covered a false prophecy of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. I am going to outline this false prophecy in this post and provide the documentation so you can use this in your discussions with JWs.

In Deuteronomy 18:20-22 God gives us the requirements for a prophet that is from Him. If the prophet makes a prediction about anything that does not come to pass he is a false prophet and should not be trusted.

Deuteronomy 18:20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’ 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. ESV

I want to explore and address this question from a Biblical perspective. This is a question I have been asked by people in the past. I have been told “JW’s love Jesus, doesn’t that make them Christian?” This is the first objection I will address.

When a Jehovah’s Witness says they love Jesus they are referring to a created being (Michael the Archangel) not the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Triune God. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has resurrected a centuries old heresy known as Arianism. Arianism denies the deity of Christ and says that Christ was a created being. Arianism was condemned as a heresy by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Scripture tells us that when a person denies the deity of Christ they are denying Christ. 1 John 2:23 says that those that deny the Son do not have the Father. Those who do not have the Father are not Christians. Those that deny the deity of Christ are dishonoring Jesus and in doing so they dishonor the Father (John 5:23). Someone can name a totem pole in their back yard Jesus and worship it, but that does not make them a Christian. They have redefined Jesus and are bestowing his name upon something or someone who is not Jesus and giving love and obeisance to it. JW’s do the same thing. Michael the Archangel is not Jesus, Jesus is not a created being. God’s Word reveals the nature, being and actions of Jesus Christ, anyone who worships or gives obeisance to a Jesus created in the imaginations of men is engaging in idolatry (Ex 20:3). The Jesus of the Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot save a single person because he does not exist.

In my encounters with Jehovah’s Witnesses I have compiled together some questions that I ask them. I have had these in a Word document that I have used for these times so I have decided to share then in a blog post for the benefit of others. Most of these are the result of my own research and the rest I have heard used by other Brothers in dialogues with JWs.

Defensive

However before we get to the questions we can ask them I want to prepare you for some questions they may ask you. JW’s will most often question you about the Trinity. You should be well versed in the doctrine of the Trinity (CARM Trinity article) to ensure that you do not give answers that spin off into the heresy of Modalism (CARM Modalism article). Many well meaning Christians will give modalistic type answers when questioned about the Trinity since they do not understand the doctrine well enough themselves. JWs usually do not have a good understanding either about what Christians actually believe about the Trinity and therefore will ask questions that assume Modalism or Unitarianism (CARM Unitarianism Article). A clear understanding of the Hypostatic Union is also necessary to ensure you are clear in giving Biblical orthodox Christian answers to questions. (CARM Hypostatic Union Article).

Colossians chapter 1 is a beautifully written text of Scripture that clearly demonstrates Jesus Christ as God and the Creator of all things. It is however one of the most attacked texts next to John 1 and Philippians 2 by Arian type cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. ESV

Let’s take a moment to break down this passage and see what Paul is trying to teach in this passage.